Utah Mammoth hoping to ride talented young core to first playoff berth in 6 years
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Utah Mammoth
Last season: 38-31-13 (89 points), missed the playoffs.
COACH: Andre Tourigny (sixth season with Utah; 127-162-39 career).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 9 at Colorado.
DEPARTURES: F Josh Doan, D Michael Kesselring, C Nick Bjugstad, F Matias Maccelli.
ADDITIONS: F JJ Peterka, D Nate Schmidt, G Vitek Vaněček, F Brandon Tanev.
GOALIES: Karel Vejmelka (26-22-8, 2.58 goals-against average, .904 save percentage), Vitek Vaněček (5-14-4, 3.62, .884 with San Jose and Florida).
BETMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 40-1.
What to expect
The Utah Hockey Club has become the Utah Mammoth in the franchise’s second season since moving from Arizona. The Mammoth have been building toward their first playoff appearance since the pandemic-altered 2019-20 season and may have the pieces to pull it off. Forwards Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley anchor the core of the team’s young talent and the addition of JJ Peterka should provide some scoring punch. The 23-year-old had a breakout season with Buffalo two years ago and upped it last year with 27 goals and 68 points. Utah signed Vejmelka to a five-year contract extension in March, solidifying his spot as the team’s No. 1 goalie. The Mammoth also added Vaněček after Connor Ingram was traded to Edmonton a week before the opener.
Strengths and weaknesses
The good: The young talent up front is dynamic, led by Keller. The 27-year-old made his fourth straight All-Star game a year ago — fifth overall — and had a career season with 30 goals and 90 points. Guenther is coming off a 27-goal season and Cooley had 25 with 40 assists. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay last season, had a strong first season in Utah, providing stability on the blue line while finishing with 15 goals and 38 assists.
The not-so-good: Injuries took a toll on Utah’s blue line last season and they’re hoping to rebound now that everyone’s healthy again. Scoring also has been an issue with the team for years and they made some strides last season, finishing 21st with 2.93 goals per game. The addition of Peterka should help. As with most teams, the Mammoth’s playoff chances will likely come down to goaltending and they will lean heavily on Vejmelka, who’s been stellar at times but prone to the occasional blow-up game.
Players to watch
Forward Barrett Hayton. Utah has plenty of scoring punch up front with its young trio and steady producer Nick Schmaltz (20 goals, 43 assists last season). Hayton has good chemistry with Keller when he’s on the top line and has been a steady offensive player, setting career highs with 20 goals and 26 assists last season after being hampered by injuries the year before. The 25-year-old could be ready for a breakout season.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL